Alum Creek at Columbus OH water level

Name: Alum Creek at Columbus OH water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Alum Creek, Ohio, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

2.52ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 09:30 PM EDT (40 min ago)

Flow: 126 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Alum Creek at Columbus OH, where the gauge shows 2.52 ft.

That puts it 0.28 ft above the median of 2.24 ft for mid-October, based on 9 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 2.66 ft (−0.14 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 1.97 ft – 4.95 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

Compared with 9 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 2.24 ft0.28 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1.95 ft – 2.94 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (9 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.66 ft−0.14 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 1.97 ft – 4.95 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 1.74 ft – 8.61 ft

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.26 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

19 Mon 65° 36° – Wind 5 mph

20 Tue 68° 40° – Wind 6 mph

21 Wed 69° 50° – Wind 5 mph

22 Thu 68° 49° – Wind 5 mph

23 Fri 68° 50° – Wind 6 mph

24 Sat 69° 50° – Wind 6 mph

25 Sun 69° 51° – Wind 6 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:48 AM Sunset 06:46 PM Daylight 10 hr, 58 min First quarter 64%

Map

Other gauges on Alum Creek

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Alum Creek near Kilbourne OHRiver gauge, Alum Creek	4.6 cfs	Normal	−4.1 cfs	28 mi
Alum Creek at Africa OHRiver gauge, Alum Creek	93.1 cfs	Normal	−2.0 cfs	16 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Scioto River at Columbus OHRiver gauge, Scioto River	5.41 ft	Below flood stage	−0.07 ft	4.4 mi
Olentangy River at J H Herrick Dr at Columbus OHRiver gauge, Olentangy River	74.1 cfs	Normal	−2.8 cfs	5.7 mi
Big Walnut Creek at Rees OHRiver gauge, Big Walnut Creek	235 cfs	Normal	−12.0 cfs	6.2 mi
Scioto River at 5th Ave at Columbus OHRiver gauge, Scioto River	140 cfs	Normal	±0	7 mi
Blacklick Creek near Pickerington OHRiver gauge, Blacklick Creek	17.9 cfs	High	−3.0 cfs	8 mi
Big Walnut Creek at Central College OHRiver gauge, Big Walnut Creek	3.74 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	11 mi
Hoover Reservoir at Central College OHReservoir, Hoover Reservoir	891.46 ft	Very high	−0.09 ft	12 mi
Scioto River near Commercial Point OHRiver gauge, Scioto River	689 cfs	Normal	−86.0 cfs	12 mi

Questions and answers

How does Alum Creek at Columbus OH compare with last year?

It is 0.14 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.66 ft.

What is a normal level for Alum Creek at Columbus OH in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.24 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.95 ft and 2.94 ft, based on 9 years of records.

Is gage height the same as water depth?

No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.

What is the water level of Alum Creek at Columbus OH today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 09:30 PM EDT, the water level was 2.52 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Alum Creek at Columbus OH rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.24 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Alum Creek at Columbus OH normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 9 years of daily readings for this time of year.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:03229000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 39.94506, -82.94101 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NGVD29
Update interval: every 15 minutes
Licence: Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Water level	2.52 ft	2026-10-20 01:30	Provisional
Flow	126 cfs	2026-10-20 01:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Alum Creek at Columbus OH (usgs:03229000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/ohio/alum-creek-at-columbus-oh

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer